Qemists, The Herbaliser & Sleepin’ Giantz, Concorde 2, September 15
Playgroup presents Ninja Tune vs Tru Thoughts with Qemists, The Herbaliser & Sleepin’ Giantz, Concorde 2
Hometown label legends Tru Thoughts square up to indie giants Ninja Tune for a battle of beats spanning hip hop, jazz, drum’n’bass and breakbeat via the talents of The Herbaliser, Qemists, Zed Bias and more.
Repping b-boy behemoths Ninja Tune, Qemists and The Herbaliser embody twin poles of the hyper-prolific imprint, markers of the breadth of its styles: rock-tinged drum’n’bass and jazzy hip hop respectively.
Qemists are a post-Pendulum staple of punch-drunk junglist metal, all guitar shreds and stadium breakbeats. Their 2009 Join The Q saw collaborations with artists as unlikely as Faith No More’s Mike Patton, grime legend (and labelmate) Wiley and drum’n’bass chanteuse Jenna G.
The Herbaliser have long-since carved a niche for hip-gyrating jazz rap to perfectly befit Ninja Tune’s fresh, rootsy aesthetic. Funk and jazz buff Jake Wherry collided with turntablist Ollie Teeba more than twenty years ago in London, rapidly becoming one of that label’s seminal acts. Wherry alone will conjure up some funky numbers at Concorde 2 for some no-doubt classy brass.
On their home turf, Tru Thoughts will show off the new collaboration between three urban legends Zed Bias, Rodney P and Fallacy, monikered Sleepin’ Giantz. Zed Bias gained notoriety with his turn-of-the-millenium UK garage classic ‘Neighbourhood’, his fusion sounds since put down as vital precursors to dubstep’s emergence. Rodney P garnered unbeatable UK hip hop credentials back in the 80s as part of breakthrough collective London Posse, forging a career that saw them reach the heights of touring with Public Enemy and N.W.A. via, err, Tim Westwood. Fallacy, say  Tru Thoughts, “is the missing link between grime and UK hip hop”, neatly completing a team effort of masterful flow and fusion sounds to rival Ninja Tune’s legacy.
Concorde 2 a fertile home ground for both labels, this show will be as natural a coming together of names and labels as it will be of styles.
23:00 – 03:00, £8 + BF
For more information visit www.concorde2.co.uk
